My ski gear has been packed away in a trunk for the summer. I officially transitioned over to summer sports a few weeks ago with a successful showing in the rainy Napa Valley Triathlon. Gear purchases have switched from goggles, jackets and skis / boots to swimming, biking, and running accessories, and my regular cast of athletic pals are those from my Olympia tri group; we have been gathering for great workouts, rides around Olympia, and some good beer, food and laughs.

Time on the bike or in the pool has provided the chance for ski season reflection. I racked up about 24 days skiing Canada, Utah, Washington and Oregon. I am proud of this number considering I’ve been dealing with death, unemployment, then employment and a new home.

Yes, almost every day had something that made it special. I made new ski friends this year, and I’m so happy I got to hit the slopes with Sam, Elliott, and July at one point or another throughout the season. I reconnected with old ski friends Caroline, Owen and Billy. I tried five new resorts this year. I strapped on cross country skis for the first time. I did my very first big, group ski trip which involved all the amenities that one expects from a big, group ski trip. I did apres West-Coast style. I skied in a pouring rain. I night skied for the first time since my days of racing back pre-1996. Oh yes, what a year!

Did I advance my skills? No. I think I became a worse skier this year. I didn’t ski any park. I didn’t ski any runs that scared the crap out of me. I didn’t do any backcountry. If you would have asked me a few months ago, pre-move, what I expected out of my first ski season back on the West Coast, these would have been on my list.

I think I only had about 4 total days which involved bottomless powder, or where I was left mentally and physically exhausted from nonstop laps. or days where I felt “on,” or a combination of these attributes. On a very personal level, those are the days that count. I am a girl that likes to push it. And skiing is my baby. It’s the sport at which I’m best. And to look back and see that I got worse at it? While back on my home turf? Well that hurts!

Where to go? This time last year I talked of retiring from my very short park obsession and focusing on other areas of skiing. I am, yet again, at a crossroads. Where do I want to take my skiing? If I am happy with status quo or slight improvement from this year, I’m in a place for making that happen. If the NW has better conditions I could end up ahead future years. And as I make more friends, backcountry will slowly become more accessible.

What if I’m not happy with this? Do I continue to chase a juvenile dream of continuing to further my skiing? I’m starting to wonder if to get beyond this plateau I must make a move even more radical than simply a return to the NW and move to somewhere like Park City, where skiing is 5 minutes away and a city that could support my career is 40 minutes away. Of course the repercussions of a move like that are large. Friends? Family? Job? Is skiing really more important than those?

We will see. There’s many cycles and swims ahead that provide time for further reflection. And it could be a great thing or a bad thing that my fellowship ends in February. I will admit there is a savings fund for a month of skiing post-job. It’s always been a ski vacation dream of mine to take a few weeks and follow the storms. I’d like February 2010 to be that. I have my suby, my gear, and me. It’d be wonderful to have someone to do it with, but a solo trip could be just as rewarding. Who knows… that month could turn into the next phase of life, or at least help me find the path.

And some other small notes…

I made a late season purchase of the Salomon Idols. They’re wicked! For the first five minutes they feel annoying, tight and stiff. But then something marvelous happens and the mold to my foot. Finally, after 9+ years of my old boots, I have new ones! Yay!

I had a last minute offer to compete in the Freeskiing Competition at K-Wood. It would have been a lot of money for little return. I am going to try and stay on top of sign-ups for next season and get in. I have no chance of doing anything special with this, but I’d feel pretty badass.

Elliott and I had an epic hike up the Muir Snowfield, 5 hours up, then a great ski down. Our legs were jello when we popped into the skis, but it was such a unique feeling to be flying down Mt. Rainier on skis. Swimming, biking, and running endurance does NOT transition over to snow hiking! It was exhausting hiking up! We stupidly forgot beer so we got back to the parking lot and had to make do with water. I think the lack of a calming, celebratory drink messed with our minds because we felt it necessary, on our drive down Rainier, to stop, strip down to undegarments and jump into a glacial stream. Incredibly cold, but so very refreshing!

The Pandora has yet to be located.